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Oxfordshire Eco-renovation Club May 2010 Update

A May update about eco-renovation in Oxfordshire.

Hello eco-renovators

A warm welcome to new subscribers to this list.

There's heaps going on in the next couple of months, and some new insulation deals just announced, so do check out some of the activities below.

The Ideal Green Home Show went well at the end of April. We'll shortly have a report online, and meanwhile you can check the full details of exhibitors, and download the newly updated Oxfordshire Eco-renovation Directory here http://climatex.org/articles/eco-renovation/ideal-green-home-show/

A big THANK YOU to all the volunteers and stall holders, and to North Aston Organics and Veg-In-Clover for publicity help.

In this update

Open Homes Events
New Insulation Deal
Trainings - Energy Auditing for Old and listed Buildings amnd Energy Auditing for Community Buildings
Researcher seeks households who have considered renewables
Introducing - Richard Twinch, a resource for Insulation Seminars
Eco-workshops
Build your Own Wind Turbine
Lighter later
Green Communities newsletter

Open Homes events

1.1 Sat 22nd May 11am - 12.30 pm

Internal and External insulation on an Edwardian semi-detached house in Headington.

Tina's home in Headington has been significantly renovated this year, to include internal and external solid wall insulation. You can read her blog here: http://climatex.org/users/tina/blog/ . 12 spaces available.

Sign up here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C86M2SM

Her home will also be open as part of the Heritage Open Days this autumn.

1.2 Saturday 19th June. Tim and Jo's eco-renovated 1970s flat in Summertown Session 1: 2-3pm Session 2: 3-4pm

See how a tired two bedroom flat in Summertown was given a comprehensive eco-make-over to become a stylish, bright, warm, healthy low carbon home. Learn about numerous simple measures that collectively make a big difference - it is now low carbon and low cost but very comfortable. As seen on BBC TV Openhouse. You can see a case study of their flat here: http://ecovation.org.uk/htmldesigns/1970flat.html

Sign up here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C86M2SM

1.3 Wolvercote Wander - Sun 9th May

On Sunday 9th May, come with neighbours & friends on the Wolvercote Wander. See http://www.wolvercote.org/LowCarbonWolvercote/LCW.htm .

It's a celebration of the small, low-tech things, as well as the big projects, including solar hot water, solar electricity, air source heat pumps, cob buildings and more. Full info: http://bit.ly/awolvercotewander

1.4 Eco-homes Open Days

ClimateXchange and COIN are not organising Eco-homes open days this year, but there will be a number of eco-renovated homes who will be open as part of the Heritage Open Days. We will publicise these homes closer to the time. If you are a home owner who has eco-renovated your home and would like to open it up, please apply directly to Heritage Open Days: http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

2. £99 Insulation Deal

For a limited period, local homeowners and private tenants can get cavity wall or loft insulation fitted for a standard price of £99 each. At this low price insulation pays for itself fast in reduced energy bills.

The Council's £99 deal is subject to funding and is being managed exclusively by Cocoon, a long standing partner of the Council. You may have to pay more if your property is larger than average for the number of bedrooms, or access to walls or loft is restricted or extra vents are required.

To find out more, call 0800 8048 777 and ask for the ‘Oxon Deal' or visit www.cocoonyourhome.co.uk

3. Trainings

3.1. Energy Auditing for Old and listed Buildings

Sustainable Charlbury have arranged training by EST on Tuesday 25th May from 9.45 - 4.30 pm. You will need to be registered as Green Communities members before the course. You can do this by going to http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/cafe/Green-Communities/About-us/Become-a-Member-or-Update-Profile . There are a limited number of places available to external delegates and these will be offered on a first come first serve basis. Please fill out the application form which can be accessed here: http://climatex.org/articles/news/community-events-may/ and forward to greencommunities@est.org.uk. For further information please call 0844 848 0077.

3.2 Energy Auditing for Community Buildings

The Energy Auditing for Community Buildings will take place in Oxford on 26th May, led by an expert from EST Green Communities head office. There are 20 spaces available, and final details are presently being confirmed. Please email Mathew.Roberts@est-tvs.org.uk if you're interested in attending, and he will email you final details and booking information.

4. Researcher seeks households who have considered renewables

Wanted: - Some who tried to put renewables in their house, began to think about it and then stopped because of several reasons. (I need to find around 5 to 10 households in this case)

-Households who did it while a refurbishment (those are the most important number in my research,t hat is to say around 20)

I would like to understand why they chose to put a renewable, what does it reveal from their interests, how they did and what happened before, during and after the installation. Also, I would like to understand throughout the process, who can have help them, or at the opposite, slow the installation.

It is possible for me to call them, or to see them wherever they want, I don't want to enter in their privacy so I would perfectly understand if they prefer me not to come in their house, but to see them in a public area.

If you care interested, contact: Marjorie FILLIASTRE mj.sorbonne@gmail.com 07500 805 800

5. Introducing - Richard Twinch

Richard is offering insulation seminars for local groups - if you'd like to book him his contact details are below.

** If you do this before July 2010 we can cover the costs of the event **

(a) I'm happy to travel 30 minutes drive away from central Oxford to give talks to local groups - but because of other commitments I can only manage one per month at present.

(b) Payment for time would be nice (rate £65 per hour) - but not essential - standard travel expenses

(d) I will present and discuss options for insulating roofs, walls and floors starting from theory to practice.

(e) The informal presentation includes handling various insulating materials

(f) Questions are included as we go along.

(e) A spreadsheet outlining various options will be handed out.

(f) Thermographic imaging demonstrated.

Contact him: Richard Twinch Design Phone: 01865 202108 Email: twinch@community.co.uk Web: www.twinchdesign.co.uk

6. Ecoworkshops http://www.ecoworkshops.co.uk/

Going Green: Re-inventing Family Homes and Lifestyles

This workshop is perfect for homeowners undertaking their own home redesign or briefing builders or Architects. Use SEED-groups professional knowledge and years of experience to help inspire and inform your eco design. This is a unique opportunity to ask eco advisers questions; meet like minded people and build your network of sources and recommendations.

Price £65.00 Book this workshop by choosing a date below:

Saturday, 22nd May, 2010 10.15am to 4.00pm

Saturday, 26th June, 2010 10.15am to 4.00pm

7. Build Your own wind turbine Oxford, 14-18th June

An introductory, hands-on course for anyone thinking of building their own turbine, as well as some hands on fun for anyone interested in wind. Delivered by www.v3power.co.uk

Further info: http://climatex.org/media/attachments/early_2010_courses.pdf

8. Lighter later

Just a quick one: if you've taken a look at Yahoo's People's Policies page recently you'll have seen the great news that 10:10's Lighter Later campaign has made the top ten. Result! This means we're within shouting distance of making it to the top of the table - and Yahoo telling their 20 million users all about our proposals to move the clocks forward an hour so we all get to enjoy one more hour of daylight in the evening.

We can't think of a better boost for this common-sense campaign, which will cut half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year and save many lives on the road. So if you haven't already, please click on the link below and take a moment to vote ‘yes'. The deadline's 5.30pm today, so don't hang about! And if you have voted already, why not forward this email on to a friend?